Archive for the ‘Christian’ Category
Our Second Serivice
Filed under: Christian | Tags: church, church plant, cleveland
Leave a Comment I promise not to make every post a recap of each service, that would get pretty boring. However these first few are integral to the founding story of this campus, and I think it important to chronicle them.
Anyway, our second service was also well attended, by our Vineyard friends and the community. While I think we may have had fewer visitors, we had several people return for our community meal, and a couple of new them stayed to worship with us that had not stayed before. All together we had about 36 people in service, and 16 children (four of which were visitors, that is not a bad ratio). We served a good meal of beef stew and had beautiful worship and a good message by our Senior Pastor Rick Evans.
At our home group meeting this week we discussed these first two services and came to a very satisfying consensus that these services “felt like church.” In other words, they had the same feeling or rightness and belonging that we normally get when we go to our other two campuses, just in a different building. This is a very good thing because it means we are getting it right, and we are establishing our community in fellowship with ourselves and with Christ.
In closing I would love to here other people’s stories of starting a church and what they experienced with that. Did you have problems? Did it go well? Did it start well and then hit a lull or a valley? Share your feedback please!
Our First Service at Cleveland West
Our first service last Saturday night (which I did not get to writing about until now, almost a week later!) went very well. We had about 15 guests for dinner, and four people stay for service. That might not sound like much, but I count any number as a success, as even reaching one soul for Christ is worth it. Our team did a great job of making sure the meal and service ran quite smoothly, no real hiccups to report.
One minor problem we did have was with the soundboard. We were using an older, borrowed model that we realized is starting to die. Some of the channels on the board were not functioning the entire time. This is not something hugely noticeable to those in attendance, however over time it would get to be a problem. Our sound man said he would price boards to see what he could come up with, and then would put a proposal before our Senior Pastor to see if the purchase was feasible. I am praying that we find a good price on just the piece of equipment that we need, and that it is available in the area.
It is amazing the amount of work that goes into starting a new campus, what with all the decisions, equipment set up, cleaning, and other things that go on. However when you put a team of people to the work, who are dedicated to the Lord, the work just flies by and gets done, with happiness and joy. I want more people to know Jesus, so they can experience this kind of joy of working together as brothers and sisters for His cause.
I cannot wait to see what the Lord brings to us tomorrow night!
Reflections on 2012
Filed under: Christian | Tags: campus, church, church plant, cleveland
Leave a Comment So, after I started this blog a few years ago I decided to put it aside for awhile while I worked on my degree. I really did not have time to devote to it, as my computer time after work has been mostly spent working on school. However later this year my degree will finally be finished, and I have been getting the “bug” to write again for personal pleasure. So in reflecting on what 2012 looks to bring I decided to write these thoughts down here, and see if I cannot get myself going again on some regular writing, and possibly developing some discussion and conversation, what I really wanted this blog to do.
Pondering the shock of a NY suicide
Filed under: Christian, religion | Tags: Christian, news, newyork, suicide
Leave a Comment In checking out trends on Google this morning I came across an article from the New York Times that pointed out a very interesting difference in world view between Christians and the secular world. The article recounts the suicide of a young female banker from Manhattan who took her own life by jumping off of an apartment building. The article goes on to say that her friends were shocked because they thought she had everything in the world: a good job working with philanthropies, lots of friends all over the country, a leader with everything well organized (and from articles and a picture I saw she was pretty to boot).
These are the kinds of things the world values. So why am I not surprised to hear this woman would take her own life? I do not know her, I do not know if there were any signs leading up to the event. The article mentions she was suffering from depression but not everyone who does kills themselves. The reason why I am not surprised is because nowhere in this article does it say anything about what she knows about God. (I started to write the word “believes” in the last sentence but “knows” is more accurate).
Now the reporter may not have known anything about her religion or might not have thought it was relevant, however I believe this information is important to understand the question of why she would commit suicide. If a good job, leadership, and looks are the things this woman valued, it creates real problems when considering failure, which we all experience.
Let me make this really clear. This woman may have been very nice, might have done great things for people by raising money for charity. However she was also a sinner. She sinned daily and sinned much against God and His laws. Just like everyone else. Just like me. Had she known the forgiveness of sin offered to everyone, which includes her, for these sins she would know why she is not happy (sin), why she is not fulfilled (sin), why she feels that nothing is good enough (sin). However at the same time she would know that God loves her, and was awaiting her with open arms to forgive her sins and welcome her into His kingdom through repentance and faith.
I think a good follow up or continuation of this article would be an investigation of whether or not she really had anything to look forward to (eternal life with Christ), and what all of us can do to protect ourselves and our families and friends from this horrible fate: to believe the Good News that Jesus died for even a wretched sinner such as me.
What does anyone else think? Do you think I am wrong? Am I being crass? What do you think?
US Doctors May Perform Female Circumcisions
On Tuesday I ran across a story that made me so angry I had to steady my breathing and try to calm down. A story from Newser read that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is considering allowing doctors to perform a form of female circumcision commonly called “nicking.” This policy change is being considered to be “culturally sensitive” to those who are from countries where this practice is normally performed and to provide an alternative to taking their children back to their home countries to have the practiced performed.
Now in the interest of trying to keep this blog clean I am not going to explain the details of female circumcision. If you found this blog you can look up this practice on Wikipedia. My point here is two fold. First, docors are not supposed to do harm to their patients. This is a pretty simple concept.
the second thing to me is even more important. In the United States it is ILLEGAL TO MAIM A CHILD! A doctor should not be allowed to cut into a child just to prevent their parents from getting it done someplace else. It is a crime: assault with intent to maim, child endangerment, and probably a number of other crimes.
Men, I looked at the AAP website for the best contact, but I am not sure which is best. So I encourage you to talk to your child’s pediatrician, ask him or her to oppose this idea, and ask them to contact those in the organization with their opposition, and ask them if they know who best for you to contact to express what I hope is your disgust that this idea would even be considered. Amen.
Logical Conclusions: Temple Prostitution
Filed under: Christian, politics, religion | Tags: Christian, church, homosexuality, men, ministry, religion
Leave a Comment I do not normally link to blog posts from others but this time I simply have to make an exception. I first found this post linked at Chris Roseborough’s blog Extreme Theology, which he had linked to the original article. The basic premise here follows the logical conclusion that if liberal churches can accept homosexuality as a viable part of Christianity and not call it sin, why not do the same thing with temple prostitution? I think it is a brilliant piece and absolutely worth reading. If you have any comments, please leave so that we can have a discussion.
Why I signed the Manhattan Declaration
Filed under: Christian | Tags: abortion, Christian, homosexuality
Leave a Comment After hearing quite a bit about it in the news I decided to check out the Manhattan Declaration. If you have not yet read the declaration I suggest you check out the website and read it yourself. If you have not heard of it (living under a rock will do that) it is a position paper put together from leaders of various Christian churches that affirms the sanctity of human life, the dignity of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and the right of conscience and religious liberty.
In recent years these principles have been attacked by various groups and individuals that want to change society to fit their wants and desires. The document serves as a line in the sand for what we will tolerate and what we will affirm as what is right and just for all society.
Now some Christians have rejected the idea of signing this document for various reasons. Those who call themselves Christians and yet reject Biblical doctrines think we should allow people to make choices about who lives or dies or allow anyone to marry just because they want to declare their love for each other or share work benefits. This is a matter of allowing the culture to dictate truth, which it cannot. Truth is objective and therefore timeless, and cannot be perceived by a culture that changes with the season’s fashions.
I urge everyone who reads this, and who understands the Biblical application of these principles to sign this document. For those that do not, I suggest you investigate who Jesus is, what He has done for you, and how you can receive Him into your life. Amen.
Thoughts on the murder of George Tiller
Filed under: abortion, Christian, government | Tags: abortion, Christian, murder, news
Leave a Comment This past Sunday, one of the US’s most notorious and controversial abortionists was murdered inside his church. I wanted to share some thoughts on this murder.
First, since this death was not one sanctioned by the government, put in place by God to judge human actions, it is murder and therefore falls under the condemnation of the sixth commandment. This was a vigilante action that no Bible believing Christian can rightly sanction, agree with, or celebrate.
Second, I want to make it clear that the end does not justify the means. Situational ethics is an oxymoron, and is no ethics at all. Even though Tiller was a dispicable man and disgrace to the medical profession, who flouted the law by performing abortions up until the last possible moments before birth, the Bible does not allow for his killing by one lone man without trial and sentencing by a court sanctioned by the government where he resides.
That all being said, I wanted to point something out I heard in a podcast today which really made me think. This vigilante probably thougth he was saving lives by killing Dr. Tiller, as it will probably put his clinic out of business. What is really interesting to me is that Dr. Tiller probably felt he was “saving” lives by keeping these women from being “saddled” with an unbanted pregnancy, improving their quality of life. It didn’t matter that they were both ending lives, and ignoring the right to life that these babies and Dr. Tiller shared. I suppose it’s kind of poetic, in a horribly twisted sort of way.
Unfortunately this case will almost undoubtedly do damage to the pro-life movement, making Bible believing Christians look like the domestic terrorists that the Department of Homeland Security accused us of being. Therefore, when your pre-Christian friends ask you about this I would encourage you to denounce this murder, and then quickly shift the subject to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, taking the opportunity to share His love with them.
Amen.
Hate crime legislation: is it Good?
Filed under: Christian, government, religion | Tags: Christian, church, courts, gay, homosexuality, law, politics
Leave a Comment The US Senate is currently considering new hate crimes legislation that would add sexual orientation into existing laws on hate crime. While some people think it is good to add these “enhancements” to the law I submit to you that it is not, and will explain why.
Hate is not a Crime Hate is an emotion,not an action. We can’t punish hate anymore than we can punish love (which we cannot by the way). Only actions are punishable, along with the intent that preceded them. But without action, intent is meaningless. So if we cannot punish emotion, what are we attempting to punish? Thought and speech.
Speech in the US is protected Almost all speech in this country, with the exception of sedition, is protected under The Constitution. Ten years ago the Ku Klux Klan held a small rally here in Cleveland, Ohio where they made racist speeches. Many people here thought our mayor, who at the time was black, should not have given them a permit. But the mayor did the right thing, allowing them to march and rally. While the Klan may be dispicible, they have a right to exist, a right to speak, and those opposed to their views have a right to condem them, which they did. Hate crime legislation would make it illegal for a Pastor of a church to read or expound upon the chapters of Leviticus and Romans in the Bible that condemn homosexuality as a sin. This would not only violate our right to free speech but but also our freedom of religion as well.
Hate crime is not justice The US Constitution guarantees equality under the law. Equal protection as a defendant, equal punishment as the convicted. Hate crime elevates certain crimes to a special status, requiring enhanced punishments. This is not justice it is revenge. What is worse, under the new hate crime bill the defendant is only charged with a hate crime. If he proves that he did not commit the crime based on hate, hw would be found not guilty, receiving no punishment.
No life is more valuable than another. If the victim of a crime is of a different ethnic group then the perpetrator, do they suffer more? Of course not.The Mathew Shepard murder was a despicable crime, but it is no worse than any other murder. Does Mathew Shepard’s mother miss him more than any other mother who has lost a child? No one in their right mind can say yes to this. Therefore this legislation is illogical and unnecessary.
Hate crimes legislation is not needed The only way this legislation would make sense is if someone who committed a hate crime today would not be punished under existing law. But the fact is that people are punished . In the previously mentioned Mathew Shepard case the two men were both given life sentences, one without the possibility of parole. Another good example of a punished crime involving hate is that of James Byrd, Jr. a black man from Jasper, Texas who was dragged to death by three white men in 1998. In this case two of the three men received death sentences, the other life in prison. What would hate crime legislation do? Can we kill them twice? Can we make the third defendant live long enough to serve two life sentences? Of course not. If that is not possible, then it is not possible for this legislation to do anything productive and is therefore unnecessary.
Men, if we want our rights to free speech and free exercise of religion protected we must stand up for them. Thomas Jefferson said: “The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.” I urge you to call the US Capitol switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask your Senators to not support this bad legislation (S. 909), lest it become bad law. If you do not know who your Senators are, you can simply tell the operator where you live and they will connect you.
I would also ask that you pray for God to grant our elceted officials wisdom in these troubling times, for mercy for our sins, and for repentance and revival to come to our troubled nation.
Amen
Great Podcast on a Great Orphans Ministry
Last week, Brad from the Two Blind Squirrels podcast interviewed my friend Dan Shepherd for his podcast, talking about what Dan does at Visiontrust, a wonderful Christian ministry that cares for orphans all over the world.
I’m not going to go into details of what Visiontrust is because you can hear all about it in the podcast (and it’s less typing). I will simply quote Mathew 25:40 40And(A) the King will answer them,(B) ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these(C) my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’
We are called to aid those less fortunate than ourselves, especially widows and orphans. Visiontrust helps us do just that by providing schools, medical care, Christian instruction, and other things as the children have need.
Please check out this brief podcast and prayerfully consider helping through donations, volunteering for a missions trip, and your prayers.
Thank you.
